Cenote Zací

Useful Information

Location:	Calle 36, Sta Ana, 97780 Valladolid, Yucatán. In Valladolid city center, two blocks east of the main square. (20.6913699, -88.1977183)
Open:	All year daily 8-17:30. [2026]
Fee:	Adults MXN 60. [2026]
Classification:	Cenote
Dimension:	Ø=40 m, VR=40 m.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no, staircases
Bibliography:
Address:	Cenote Zaci, Calle 36, Sta Ana, 97780 Valladolid, Yucatán.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Cenote Zaci is quite exceptional, as it not located in the midddle of the bush at the end of a single lange gravel road. No, it is located in the middle of the city Valladolid, and thus also known as Cenote Zaci Valladolid. And there is a second difference to most other cenotes, it is not a simple collapse doline with vertical walls, actually it is a huge cave chamber, where only a part of the roof has collapse. The other half forms a huge chamber with massive stalactites at the ceiling. The collapse produced a slope of debris which is covered in plants. While one would think that such a slope is ideal for a trail going down in serpentines or a staircase, the cenote is actually entered through a second cave entrance going down a side passage. However, there is also a staircase on the slop which is the exit, so the rather narrow path is one way. We actually thought about listing it as a show cave. Nevertheless, there is a lake and the site is primarily used for bathing.

The site is located in a city, so it is well developed and has good infrastructure, but also it has many visitors. It is recommended to visit early in the morning and on weekends. But prices are decent. There is a restaurant which offers local dishes and beverages, a viewing platform overlooking the cenote, and a market for local souvenirs. There are two parking lots, so parking is no problem. As always there are life jackets for rent. An extremely important: as always it is strictly forbidden to use any sunblock or other chemicals on the skin and mandatory to shower before entering, because this would contaminate the drinking water.

Zací is Mayan for Place of the Sparrow Hawk.

On the eastern side of the town of Vallodolid, on Calle 36, between Calle 37 and 39 is an artificially lit cenote where one can swim or eat in the thatched roof restaurant. The cenote has a diameter of 50 m and is 80 m deep. It is noted for a rare species of black eyeless fish known as the Lub. A third of the cenote is covered with speleothems and there is a pathway around the entire cenote.

Text by Tony Oldham (2004). With kind permission.